Apparatus for filing sheets.



G. F. PORTER.

APPARATUS FOR FILING SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12,1908.

Patented June 9, 1914.

mf'nesses 1711/27? for To all whom it may concern GEQRGE F. PORTER, 0]? WALKERVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA.

APPARATUS FOR FILING SHEETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 9, 1914.

Application filed June 12, 1908. Serial No. 438,153.

Beitknown that I, GEORGE F. PORTER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Walkerville, in the Province of Ontario-and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Filing Sheets, of which. the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings: .1

' My invention relates to systems for filing, being more particularly adapted for use in the filing of mechanical drawings, architects plans, etc.

It is the object of the construction-first, to file the sheets without folding or rolling; second, t6 obtain the greatest economy in the space required; third, to protect the sheets from dust; fourth, to render them accessible and to permit of easily removing and replacing the same.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the system and the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional perspective View of a filing cabinet constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2. is an enlarged perspective view of one of the hanger clips; and Fig. 3 is a section illustrating the manner of attaching the clip to a set of drawings to be filed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the clips detached.

The essential characteristic of my improved system of filing is the suspension of sheets in parallel vertical planes and in close proximity to each other. This results in holding the drawings, or sheets, smooth and flat, reduces the space required for their filing to the minimum, and renders them v mutually protective. It is,. however, necessary to provide supporting means which will hold the sheets in parallel'relation and at the sametime. will permit of ready engagement with an'ddisengagement from the file. This I haveaccomplished by employing horizontally-extending hanger bars preferably a pair of bars in parallel rela tion, and by providing flat hangers for attachment to the sheets engageable laterally with saidbars.

As illustrated, A are the hanger bars, which are shown as arranged within a cabinet B near the top thereof, and supported at their opposite ends. Where a large cabinet is, used, an intermediate support C may be provided for the bars so as to hold them -m a substantially horizontal plane.

. D are plate hangers for attachment-to the sheets to be filed, and which are provided with hooks E for engaging the bars A. These hangers are preferably formed of two-ply sheet metal, which at their lower ends are adapted to embrace the individual sheet or group of sheets to be filed. These lower. ends are also provided with alined apertures F, through which a brad 0r rivet G may be inserted to firmly clamp the plies of the hangers against the opposite sides of the sheets. The hook D is preferably formed by providing an inclined entry slot H of suflicient width to receive the bar A. By means of this simple construction of hanger clip described, the drawings or other sheets may be suspended from the bars A, it being only necessarytoattach a pairof clips to the upper edge of the sheet in prop erly spaced relation and then to insert the sheet in its proper place within the cabinet, engaging the hanger withthe rods A. Any suitable system of indexing may be employed, and as the hangers are engageable with the bars at any point in the length thereof the sheets may be properly positioned. With the construction as described, the

sheets as they accumulate may be added to the file without disturbing the arrangement -of those already in place, or the disengagement of the .same from their supports. The

added sheet is placed in position by first slightly separating the adjacent sheets at the proper point by sliding their hangers along the rods A. The new sheetmay then be inserted and the hangers D quickly engaged with the rods by a lateral movement. To withdraw a sheet from the file, its position being located by the index, the adja-- cent sheets are moved away to provide the necessary clearance, after which the hanger mav be disengaged and the sheet removed.

By arranging the, supporting rods A some distance back of the forward edge of the sheets, this will permit of placing a title or index card on each of the sheets or groups of sheets, which may be inspected by merely turning back the corner of the adjacent sheet.

As shown in Fig. 3, where a group of sheets belong to the same set of drawings. or other papers are to be held together, they may be clamped in this relation by the hanger clips by a suitable binder sheet, such as I, may be turned over the upper edges and also fastenedby the clips.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a filing system comprising a series of sheets suspended in substantial vertical planes and movable toward and from each other, the combination of a supporting rod above the sheets extending transverse to the plane thereof, and a' flat hanger attachable to the upper edge of each sheet to be suspended, said hanger having a portion projectin above the sheet with a laterally openm s ot therein for engagement with said ro 2. In a filing system comprisin a series of sheets suspended in substantia vertical planes and movable toward and-from each other, a hanger for suspending the sheets comprising a flat, two-ply sheet metal cli adapted to embrace one or more sheets, an clampin means engaging alined apertures in said c ips and passing through the intermediate sheet or sheets, said hanger being provided with a laterally opening slot for engagement with a support above the plane of the sheets.

3. In a filing system comprisin a series of sheets suspended in 'substantia vertical planes and movable toward and from each other, the combination with a laterall extending support above the. plane of the opening sheets, of suspensory means for a plurality of sheets attachably secured thereto, said suspensory means having a. portion'extending above the planeof the sheets engageable with the-lateral support b ,a movement in the plane of suspension an said sheets when suspended from said support being adjustable thereon into and out of contact with each other. v

4. In a filing system comprisin a series of sheets suspended in 'substantia vertical plane and movable toward and from each other, the combination of a pluralit' of parallel supporting rods extending a ove the sheets and transverse to the plane thereof, of a plurality of ,flat hangers attachable to each of the series of sheets, said hangers each having a portion projecting above the edge of the sheet provided with laterally slots simultaneously engageable with said parallel rods by a movement in the plane of suspension, said sheets in suspended position being movable toward and from each other by sliding movement of said slotted portion along sald rods.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. GEORGE F. PORTER.

Witnesses: T

NELLIE KINSELLA, IIABRY W. GALVIN. 

